Eustoma is not hardy
The home of the eustoma is the USA. The prairie gentian grows there in very sunny and warm locations. It does not tolerate the cold and is therefore not hardy. So it is not suitable as a plant for the garden.
also read
- Eustoma or prairie gentian is not hardy
- The right location for the gentian in the garden
- Echinocereus is hardy and suitable for the garden
Bring prairie gentian to garden in summer
Eustoma estimates temperatures around 22 degrees in summer, and it should never be cooler than 10 degrees in winter either. The prairie gentian is therefore cared for in the house all year round. Hibernating is not that easy, so the plant is often only grown for one season and disposed of after flowering.
If it is warm enough outside, you are welcome to take the Eustoma out into the garden, on the terrace or on the balcony. However, it must be ensured that there will be no more frosts. You should therefore not put them in the garden before the end of May. Bring the plant back indoors in good time in the fall if you want to try to overwinter it.
The space in the garden should offer some requirements. The prairie gentian needs at least four hours of direct sun per day. So look for a convenient location:
- somewhat sheltered from the wind
- very sunny
- protected from rain
Bring it into the house after the summer break
If the eustoma is to be overwintered, examine it for pests before moving into the house. In order for it to be able to withstand the direct sun behind glass, it must first be accustomed to the new location for hours.
Make sure that the winter location is very bright but not too warm. Otherwise there is a risk of spider mite infestation.
There is little watering in winter and there is no fertilization at all.
Tips
Since eustoma is very sensitive to waterlogging, use very loose and permeable soil as substrate for pots and tubs. A mixture of normal potting soil with sand and gravel is well suited.
